1. A Survey of 549 Cat Owners
Researchers asked a total of 549 cat owners to respond to their survey. They measured “triarchic” traits (referring to the intelligence theory developed by Robert Sternberg), similar to those in humans, where boldness, meanness, and disinhibition are assessed to determine the level of psychopathy. They also focused on two additional factors: hostility toward humans and hostility toward other pets.
2. Is Your Cat’s Behavior Problematic?
Does your cat enjoy staring contests or feel like growling late into the night? Does your dear little furball sometimes attack you without warning from a high perch?
3. What Does the Research Say?
This might seem normal to most cat owners; however, a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University suggests that such activities might indicate that you’re living with a psychopathic cat!
4. Traits of Cat Psychopathy
A UK-based team of researchers designed a survey for cat owners to determine whether their beloved companions might display feline psychopathy traits.
5. A 46-Question Test
This is why they named the test “Cat Triarchic Plus,” or “CAT-Tri+.” It consists of a total of 46 questions about your cat’s behaviors, many of which are very common among our beloved felines.
6. Excessive Meowing, Growling, and More
According to the team’s published study, they asked pet owners questions such as: “My cat vocalizes loudly (e.g., meowing, yowling) for no apparent reason,” “My cat runs around the house for no apparent reason,” and “My cat doesn’t seem to feel guilty after misbehaving.”
7. All Cats Are More or Less Psychopaths, According to a Study
Most of the questions seem to describe average cat behavior. The study found that all cats exhibit some level of psychopathy, and the reason is simple: evolution.
8. Survival of the Fittest
According to the Journal of Research in Personality, “In an ancestral environment that required self-reliance, wild cats with higher levels of psychopathic traits may have been more successful at acquiring resources (food, territory, mating opportunities).”
9. A Long Line of Psychopaths
Thus, the cats we now have as pets come from a long lineage of cats with psychopathic traits because that was their only means of survival.
10. A Cat’s Priorities
Don’t worry—your cat might be a psychopath, but it’s highly unlikely they want to eat you. Your furry friend only cares about ruling the house, eating your food, and being a sought-after companion.
11. Cats and Their Personality Differences – An Inspiration for This Study
Rebecca Evans, a researcher involved in the study, explained to Vice’s Motherboard why they chose to explore the fascinating topic of feline psychopathy. Evans stated: “Our cats and the differences in their personalities inspired us to undertake this research.”
12. How Does This Affect the Owner-Pet Relationship?
Evans continued: “Personally, I’m also interested in how an owner’s perception of their cat’s psychopathy affects their relationship. My cat (Gumball) scores relatively high on the disinhibition scale, which means he can be quite loud, clingy, and very restless or nervous!”
13. Research on Our Feline Friends
Vice’s Motherboard also interviewed another author of the study, Minna Lyons, who stated that after studying psychopathy in humans, rodents, and primates, the researchers—who all love cats—“decided to join forces and see if psychopathy is also a meaningful trait in our feline friends.”
14. Bold Cats Might Be Psychopaths
Lyons revealed that her cat Axel, who participated in the study, shows some signs of feline psychopathy: “Axel is downright fearless, known for entering neighbors’ homes, cars, and garages in search of food.”
15. More Research Is Needed
However, it’s important to note that further research is necessary to truly prove that cats are psychopaths. The questions in the study are fairly generic, such as “My cat seeks attention” or “My cat disobeys rules,” which are behaviors quite standard for the species and remain subjective in their analysis.
16. Dogs and Humans Could Be Considered Psychopaths Too by These Standards!
In fact, if we were to apply some of these same questions to our dogs or even ourselves, according to the study’s criteria, we might all be labeled psychopaths!